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TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning recognized Dottie Berger MacKinnon as a Lightning Community Hero during the first period of tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. MacKinnon, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will contribute the money to her charity of choice, A Kid’s Place.

MacKinnon founded A Kid’s Place in 2009 with the goal of instilling change and improving the quality of life for abandoned, abused and neglected children. The initiative also aims to provide an enriching experience for kids that will instill hope, encourage growth, and provide opportunities for success. Today, A Kid’s Place houses 60 kids as it continues to foster change in residential group care in the state of Florida.

As evidenced through a number of prior service endeavors, MacKinnon’s testament of service to abused children is a record beyond compare. She has personally assisted children in court by advocating as a Guardian ad Litem and also helped establish the Joshua House, which has made a significant impact upon the lives of over 1,400 abused children over the past 20 years. MacKinnon has also stayed in close personal contact with the children at Joshua House, helping them to further their education and life opportunities.

In addition to her passion for children, MacKinnon proudly holds leadership roles for many civic and community causes. In an effort to stimulate commerce in Tampa Bay, she played an essential part in acquiring Super Bowl 2009, the 2012 Republican National Convention and other high-profile events significant to the Tampa Bay community. She has also chaired numerous benefits for such organizations including the American Heart Association, the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital, the American Cancer Society and the David Straz Performing Arts Center. She frequently opens her home to adopted children and women with breast cancer, from which she herself is a six-year survivor.